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Source: CAL FIRE
November 9, 2015 (San Diego)--Members of CAL FIRE Firefighters, along with the Muscular Dystrophy Association, will celebrate their 61-year partnership and kick off the fire fighters' annual Fill the Boot fundraising campaign to benefit children and adults affected by muscle disease throughout the San Diego area.
More than 300 members of CAL FIRE will fan out across San Diego County with boots in hand for this year’s drive during the week of November 9 through 13th at intersections throughout the San Diego region.
Throughout 2015 MDA and fire fighters are celebrating 61 years of proud partnership, joined together in the fight against life-threatening muscle disease. Firefighters in the San Diego area do more for MDA and the families we serve than any other group, dedicating countless hours of their time every year participating in Fill the Boot drives and at MDA Summer Camp.
In the past two years, CAL FIRE Firefighters collected more than $50,000 for MDA filling the boot at San Diego intersections. CAL FIRE is the number one firefighting contributor to MDA in the State of California, and the second largest firefighting contributor in the Nation.
“Our goal for 2015, our 61st anniversary with the MDA, is to have 100% participation from all CAL FIRE Fire Stations. This will have a profound impact on our ability to exceed last year’s fundraising total and make the biggest difference for families dealing with neuromuscular disease,” said Captain Angel Hendrie, Chairperson for the CAL FIRE San Diego Fill the Boot campaign.
Funds raised throughout 2015 will help support MDA's programs of worldwide research, specialized health care services, and day-to-day support – which includes sending children affected by muscular dystrophy and related diseases to a weeklong, barrier-free MDA summer camp at Camp Cuyamaca in Descanso, CA.
As the Muscular Dystrophy Association's largest national sponsor, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) fuels MDA's mission to find treatments and cures for life-threatening muscle diseases.
The IAFF is a major contributing sponsor of the MDA Show of Strength Telethon, and contributions from charity baseball games and other local events help support MDA's efforts to raise awareness and provide professional and public education about neuromuscular diseases.
IAFF support for MDA began in 1954 when the organization committed by proclamation to support MDA until a cure is found, and the organization's unwavering commitment to MDA has remained strong to this day. The IAFF raised $100,000 for MDA in 1955, and $1 million in 1970, and fire fighters continue to raise the bar in their fundraising efforts. In 2014, more than 100,000 fire fighters participated in Fill the Boot events across the country and raised $21.4 million. To date the IAFF has raised over $500 million for MDA.
About the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
The International Association of Fire Fighters represents more than 300,000 professional fire fighters and paramedics who protect 85 percent of the nation’s population. More than 3,200 affiliates and their members protect communities in every state in the United States and in Canada.
About MDA
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is the world’s leading nonprofit health agency dedicated to saving and improving the lives of anyone with muscle disease, including muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neuromuscular diseases. It does so by funding worldwide research to find treatments and cures; by providing comprehensive health care services and support to MDA families nationwide; and by rallying communities to fight back through advocacy, fundraising and local engagement. Visit mda.org and follow us at facebook.com/MDAnational and @MDAnews. Learn more about MDA's mission by watching this video.
About CAL FIRE
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is an emergency response and resource protection department. CAL FIRE protects lives, property and natural resources from fire; responds to emergencies of all types, and protects and preserves timberlands, wildlands, and urban forests. The department’s varied programs work together using ongoing assessments of the condition of natural resources and challenges of an increasing population
to plan protection strategies for California. Department personnel and equipment are a familiar sight throughout the state with responsibility for protecting over 31 million acres of California’s privately-owned wildlands, and providing emergency services of all kinds through local government agreements within 35 of California’s 58 counties.
CAL FIRE responds to more than 5,600 wildland fires that burn over 172,000 acres each year. In addition, department personnel answer the call more than 350,000 times for other emergencies including structure fires; automobile accidents; medical aids; swift water rescues; civil disturbances; search and rescues; hazardous material spills; train wrecks; floods; and earthquakes earthquakes. Learn more about CAL FIRE at www.fire.ca.gov
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